Crystal Fish

186

2 years ago

As we were passing through Monterey I told the Mrs. to find a sushi spot that she was interested in and we landed at Crystal Fish. We soon realized that we had been here once before a couple years back when I recognized the "Japanese KFC" on the appetizer menu. Food portions and taste/quality are more than respectable here. It is a bit on the pricier side but I think that comes with the location more than anything. Service was friendly and quick, we got our appetizer and food very fast and we were in and out of here within an hour. We got the Japanese KFC, combination plate (sesame chicken & ton katsu), and a couple sushi rolls. We both left feeling full and pleased with the experience. The sesame chicken is a hit it isn't drenched in sauce but rather a bit of a glaze which is nicely paired with the light/crispy breading. Also the Japanese KFC appetizer is a must, it's one of the better karaage's I've had. Side note: we got the unfiltered sake the last time we came here and it was a really good sidekick to the meal! read more

Crystal Fish - Unfiltered Sake - would recommend for sure - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - TonKatsu - was a little dry but TonKatsu typically is on the drier side - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Combination plate - Sesame Chicken & TonKatsu - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Japanese KFC - a must have appetizer, the dip they serve with it really elevates it - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Jeanette M.

146

823

1 year ago

It was good . Service was good . My salad was delicious . My yea was great ! The rolls were okay . The service with GREAT . read more

Crystal Fish - The BEST seaweed salad - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Hamachi Carpaccio. W/o tomatoes. Delicious. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Spider roll. So so - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Cherry blossom ..... fresh , it was okay - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Eunji L.

3 months ago

I have been to this restaurant so many times. and this time I have to say this. I ate sushi& rice for lunch. Some fish was not fresh. I paid more than $30 including tax for mere lunch but I left some fishes uneaten. it was so disappointing. read more

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Mimi W.

242

8 months ago

Came at opening when there was only 1 table currently filled but the wait was loooong for a party of 5. Upside, the sushi was great but if you think you're gonna like the pork katsu because you like chicken katsu odds are you won't. A few of us ordered it to try something new but we were super disappointed. read more

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Mellissa V.

1 year ago

We were in town for a little family vacation. The kids wanted sushi. The food was fresh and delicious. The service was good. It hit the spot. read more

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Manisha M.

205

346

2 years ago

Crystal Fish has phenomenal sushi! My husband and I over ate because we couldn't stop. We ordered 5 rolls between the two of us, which is nuts but it's because the rolls were just SO good. firecracker: (4/5) surprisingly this was the least favorite, although I thought it would be the best. I think the Tempura was too much, but it's basically a fancy spicy tuna roll Sexy: (5/5) has crab and unagi and was our favorite roll. So much so, that we ordered it again! Firecracker: (5/5) This was the first time we had tried a roll where the salmon was slightly baked/charred. It gave a uniquely Smokey flavor that we enjoyed Lovers Point (5/5) this was a special, although I do hope it becomes permanent. Another salmon roll that was slightly charred and tasted amazing. But by this time I was stuffed and only had one piece Service was quick and the ambience is cozy. We got lucky and found parking on the street read more

Crystal Fish - Pink dragon, sexy, firecracker - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Lovers point, sexy - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Libin D.

157

7 months ago

My fav spot for sushi in the peninsula. I was always impressed and the ambiance is fun too. The selection is great, fresh and tasty.

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Nancy N.

1 year ago

Would definitely go back to Crystal Fish if I was in the area. We were visiting for a night in Monterey Bay and were craving seafood. Ordered nigiri sushi, their version of karaage, gyoza, and matcha cheesecake. All very yummy and next time I'll order one of the seasonal specials too. Server was very attentive with utensils and timing of dishes, as well as quickly refilled our teas and waters. read more

Crystal Fish - Various cuts of tuna, salmon, and uni. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - KFC or Karaage - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Emeline T.

159

230

2 years ago

Came in with my boyfriend on a Monday night around 8:30pm and they weren't busy at all so we were seated right away. The interior is spacious and clean and there are plenty of tables as well as a few seats at the sushi bar. We ordered a dragon roll to share, the Nabeyaki Udon, and the Tuna 3-Way. The roll was yummy, basically a textbook dragon roll -- no complaints! The udon was nice and hot, perfect for the cold and rainy weather, and was a very generous portion. I was only able to finish about half of it and took the rest to go, and there were plenty of noodles still left in my to-go portion. Great flavor and lots of toppings. Finally, my boyfriend highly recommends the Tuna 3-Way. We were surprised at how much fish actually came in the dish, because sometimes $30 worth of sushi can be a much more modest portion at other places. This portion was quite generous and also came with plenty of fresh vegetables. Each tuna style was delicious and fresh! Excellent balance and variety of fish, veggies, and rice. read more

Crystal Fish - Tuna 3-Way - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Dragon Roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Nabeyaki Udon - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Kam V.

Elite 21

1 year ago

Went here to eat last night for our day trip in Monterey. This sushi restaurant was recommended by someone from the Asian-American Group I'm in so my hopes were up. I will only be reviewing the service and food that I personally ordered and enjoyed. We were there yesterday (Saturday, around 6pm), the restaurant had a few empty tables and was not looking busy. We (family of 5) got seated right away, which was great. It took around 5-7mins before someone took our orders, and once we ordered. The food came more than 15mins after which was quite a long wait with hungry kids. I ordered the Green Goblin roll and it was exceptionally good! The fish in it were so fresh and delicate. Every flavor just blended so well. I also ordered the Hokkaido Uni Nigiri and the Santa Barbara Uni Nigiri. Uni is my ultimate favorite food to eat. If the restaurant is serving Uni, I will definitely order it. The Hokkaido Uni has a sweeter more umami taste. The texture is melt in your mouth smooth almost like mayo. I would say that the Santa Barbara one even though smooth, has a noticeable chunk. You will feel a a tiny bit of separation once you let it sit in your mouth. Overall, we loved the food in here. The sushi was fresh! My daughters loved their udon. And my husband seemed to like his food too. read more

Crystal Fish - Green Goblin - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Santa Barbara Uni - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Hokkaido Uni - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Celine L.

116

627

1605

3 years ago

3 stars for the sushi and 5 stars for the customer service. My fiancé and I had a date in Carmel and was craving sushi. By the time we drove home our fave sushi spots would be closed so we settled for this place. I liked that the sushi rolls were not drenched in sauce but a lot of the rolls used spicy tuna. This has a pretty overbearing flavor that can get tiring pretty quickly. I also felt like the filling was skimpy especially one of the rolls that was supposed to have deep fried soft shell crab. That's a bummer! The sashimi platter was ok but fish wasn't the highest of quality. Overall it was ok but didn't really hit the spot for us. read more

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Crystal P.

1 year ago

My husband and I have been coming here for years. The fish used for the sushi is always fresh. The service is always great. The sushi bar looks great. They do get really busy on holidays. read more

Crystal Fish - Philly Roll, Spider Roll, Golden California and salmon nigiri. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Local W.

10 months ago

LOVE their deep-fried oysters that come with this delicious umami sauce, although I'm not sure if it's still on the menu. Their service is extremely fast, and the staff is very friendly. I definitely recommend parking on one of the side streets, as Lighthouse can get crazy! read more

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Emilio N.

1 year ago

Sushi was amazing! Prices were great and waiters were very patient and nice. However we were stationed close to the bathroom and boy did it stink! Would NOT recommend a table by the bathroom. read more

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Rosann G.

1 year ago

Good sushi, slightly pricey. The quality was great, but portions were small. Service was friendly and quick. Worth it for a nice sushi night. read more

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James C.

9 months ago

Great local spot! It's clear the restaurant puts their full effort towards having fresh, clean seafood. We got the sushi dinner, which comes with 7 pieces of nigiri and a california roll. This was my first time EVER having a California roll with real crab. I highly recommend if you're looking for a casual spot with top tier quality. read more

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Miranda G.

269

2 years ago

We planned on dining in but our toddler was not having it so we grabbed a to go order and headed back to our hotel around the block. We tried a few rolls and a dinner combo with teriyaki chicken and sesame chicken. Portions were generous and food was so fresh. I cannot stress enough how fresh the fish was and how generous the portions were. Worth the stop. If you're in the area for sure read more

Crystal Fish - HALF of the dinner combo with sesame and teriyaki chicken. Also came with large side of rice and miso soup that's not pictured here - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Assorted specialty rolls. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Annie K.

250

942

3962

3 years ago

Yumm came here for a late lunch around 1:30pm, they close around 2:30pm until dinner. They had the Hokkaido uni today (we asked if they had the Santa Barbara but they sold out last night and will have it for dinner time). The Hokkaido uni was so creamy and fresh! Recommend to try. Also got an order of the sake, tuna, hamachi, sweet shrimp, and mackerel with a seared salmon salad that comes with seaweed salad, romaine, avocado, broccoli, and a bunch of salad dressing (almost drenched). They place seems very authentic, the miso soup, shrimp head included, good selection of very fresh nigiri. Would def recommend and want to come back!! read more

Crystal Fish - Interior - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Our own selection of Nigiri- salmon, tuna, hamachi, sweet shrimp (with fried head), mackerel - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Miso soup- legit - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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anne c.

147

11 months ago

This is a great sushi spot - best we've found in either Pacific Grove or Monterey. Very fresh fish, good selection.

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Janie L.

Elite 25

134

1 year ago

Came here by recommendation of a friend and were fortunate enough to be seated pretty much as soon as we arrived. I noticed their limitation is less in their seating but more in the amount of wait staff they have to serve everyone. Having said that the staff was helpful and as long as you were able to flag someone down for help you could get whatever you need taken care of. We had two rolls, udon and a salmon appetizer all of which were pretty solid. read more

Crystal Fish - Salmon avocado roll and Mamma Mia roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Salmon appetizer - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Udon - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Lauren S.

202

139

2 years ago

Hands down best sushi in Monterey area. The place is small and chill, but very popular. Service is super fast.

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Rodero M.

1 year ago

Fresh fish, slow service. The quality of the fish was fantastic. However, the service was a bit inattentive. Worth visiting for sushi lovers. read more

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Mikey R.

9 months ago

Kept hearing how good this place was and finally decided to give it a try. There was a huge line but we were seated within 15 minutes. The restaurant itself is super crowded and the tables seem a little old which makes them feel dirty, not the best first impression. The sushi itself was nothing to write home about, can't even remember the names of the rolls we got. The sashimi was okay, fresh but not even well cut. Service was chaotic and disorganized which made the experience worse due to having to hear the tables next to us constantly complain about how long they'd been waiting and who had been waiting longer. Maybe I'd order take out, but definitely will not dine in the restaurant again. read more

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Samantha V.

153

881

2 years ago

came for dinner on a crowded night, waited in line for at least 20 mins. it's understandable that this location is popular but it was also very loud and chaotic! i appreciate how friendly and accommodating the staff was through! the sushi and dessert was good read more

Crystal Fish - mussel - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - table - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - today's special menu - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - sashimi dinner (left) rolls include no. 1, sunset roll, and monterey roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - sashimi dinner - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - tempura banana with green tea ice cream - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Mary N.

Elite 26 All-Star

102

959

1054

2 years ago

I can see why this place is highly rated. Very lively atmosphere with friendly and attentive staff. We came later in the night but they still sat us and we didn't feel rushed at all. Very generous portions for the dinner combination plates. I had the sesame chicken and short ribs. Easily enough for two meals. Both items were cooked well. This was not in the touristy area so prices were more reasonable. read more

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Soy P.

1 year ago

THIS PLACE IS SO BUSSIN. I got sesame chicken and they give you a lot of meat for a good price. ALSO THE SALAD IS SCRUMDILIUMCIOUS. Our waiter was very nice and the service was good. The bathrooms are a little sus and they don't give enough rice, but I'll give it a pass this time because I am a big back. read more

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Wicaksa M.

2 years ago

Food and service is always good here. Sushi tastes fresh, kitchen food tastes delicious, and they do not skimp on portion sizes. read more

Crystal Fish - Lunch box kalbi, sesame chicken, and sashimi. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Harlan W.

164

11 months ago

Great shrimp and vegetable tempura dish served with white rice. Large glasses of iced tea were often refilled by the courteous and attentive staff. read more

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Sharon D.

320

2 years ago

They were open on Easter which was really convenient as a tourist visiting over the Easter weekend! There was no wait when we arrived for dinner, however we walked past this restaurant the day prior and there were quite a lot of people waiting outside. If you're trying to avoid a wait, definitely try to come right as they open for dinner! The restaurant itself is located on Lighthouse Avenue which is about 3-4 short blocks away from Cannery Row. That being said, if you were attending the aquarium for the day and already snagged parking, the restaurant itself is an easy trek on foot from the aquarium. If not, there is no designated parking lot however street parking isn't too hard to come by! Staff was super attentive and were very kind when it came to taking our order as well as checking in on us throughout our meal. Fish was really fresh and the rolls weren't drenched in sauce which was great! read more

Crystal Fish - Mama Mia roll (left) and Big Ryan roll (right) - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Matt W.

Elite 25

307

1 year ago

Crystal Fish came highly recommended and for good reason. The interior was spacious and well lit. The sushi rolls were fresh and it was very clear as to why they have been voted Best in Monterey 2010 - 2024. Only complaint was that our waiter spoke very limited English and it was extremely hard to understand what he was saying when it came to basic questions about the food. I was hoping to get one raw roll and one cooked. Due to this difficulty I ended up with two raw rolls. Finding parking was a challenge as well. Overall, very good sushi. read more

Crystal Fish - Mochi - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Kamikaze roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Philadelphia roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Mike H.

378

154

2 years ago

Was looking for a quick small snack between lunch and dinner. Ordered two rolls (big ryan and frankenstein) and they were both EXCELLENT.. Wish our group would have liked sushi because I wanted to come back so bad. Till next time.. read more

Crystal Fish - Big ryan and Frankenstein both were great - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Bear B.

11 months ago

The sushi chefs here are very professional and very kind. The other sushi resturaunts close earlier than what their signs say. The younger sushi chef was a delight to talk to. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. They earned a returning customer. Highly recommend. read more

Crystal Fish - Spider Roll, Salmon Skin Roll, Japanese Squash Roll, Yellowtail roll, salmon, albacore, yellowtail nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Winnie L.

273

204

2 years ago

Visited this spot twice in 2 days. One for sit down lunch, and another for take out. Both times, the service was wonderful. They were friendly and welcoming. The food was spectacular, no wonder so many locals come here. Also very reasonably priced! We had the bento boxes for lunch, with sashimi and chicken teriyaki. Big portions. To go: we go sushi rolls. Tekka, Negihama roll, Cherry Blossom, and Big Ryan. All were so fresh and decisions. read more

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Michael F.

1 year ago

This is, pound for pound, the best Japanese restaurant in the central coast. I was amazed at the quality of food and portion size. Service was equally outstanding. Please support this establishment at your earliest convenience. read more

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Sam S.

1 year ago

Excellent dinner. Everything was so tasty. Especially the appetizer black cod. The service and timing of the food was great. read more

Crystal Fish - Sampler - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - Roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - 3 styles of Tuna - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Nea T.

2 years ago

The uni was extremely fresh. It was so delicious, I was literally dancing in my seat! read more

Crystal Fish - Alaskan roll and SB uni - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Lauren L.

104

852

4 years ago

I got the combination with chicken teriyaki and sashimi (6 pieces). pretty pricey for a combination at $28, however i do think it is rare to find a place that serves 6 pieces of sashimi as opposed to just 3 when getting it as a part of a combo. the fish was very fresh and i enjoyed how thick the pieces were. the chicken teriyaki was also delicious and tender and i loved the salad dressing. my friend got the mama mia roll and the green salmon roll. he said enjoyed both but especially the mama mia roll. the ambience of the restaurant is pretty chill which was nice for me and my friends to comfortably chat away while eating read more

Crystal Fish - combination sashimi (6 piece) - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - mama mia roll (top) and green salmon roll (bottom) - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - combination chicken teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Mai T.

Elite 25

142

197

2 years ago

This place was great!! Such a lovely dining experience, they had all my faves!! A few things... -they have Shiso leaf here! It's one of my favorite additions to sushi and most places don't have it. It adds such an amazing hint of flavor! Thank you for having this! -they have UME here! Most people might not like it but it's a Japanese sour pickled plum and I love the flavor! I got the Ume roll with brown rice and it reminded me of my childhood! - the house salad having broccoli in it!! So clutch! Loved that because you feel like you actually get some substance in a salad! - fish seemed fresh and I was very happy with the green salmon roll also with shiso in it! My ideal rolls and minus the salmon, vegan! read more

Crystal Fish - Taiyaki - not fried crunchy kinda like micro waved soft, still ate it - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Crystal Fish - The best sushi! Spicy tuna VERY spicy Green Salmon roll- a must have! My fave Ume roll w brown rice for the Ume lovers - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Back

Page 2 of 38

514 Lighthouse Ave
Monterey, CA 93940
Directions
(831) 867-0145
Call Now

Hours

What time does Crystal Fish open?

Crystal Fish opens at 11:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Crystal Fish opens at 5:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Crystal Fish opens at 12:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Crystal Fish close?

Crystal Fish closes at 2:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Crystal Fish closes at 9:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Crystal Fish closes at 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.Crystal Fish closes at 9:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Thu 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PMFri 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PMSat 12:00 PM - 10:00 PMSun 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Crystal Fish take credit cards?

Yes, Crystal Fish takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Crystal Fish have catering options?

Yes, Crystal Fish does have catering options.

Does Crystal Fish have a drive thru?

No, Crystal Fish does not have a drive thru.

Does Crystal Fish have a happy hour?

No, Crystal Fish does not have a happy hour.

Does Crystal Fish serve alcohol?

Yes, Crystal Fish serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Crystal Fish allow dogs?

Yes, Crystal Fish allows dogs.

Does Crystal Fish have TVs?

Yes, Crystal Fish has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Crystal Fish have bike parking?

Yes, Crystal Fish has bike parking.

Does Crystal Fish have outdoor seating?

No, Crystal Fish does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Crystal Fish have parking?

Yes, Crystal Fish has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Is Crystal Fish wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Crystal Fish is wheelchair accessible.

Does Crystal Fish have free WiFi?

No, Crystal Fish does not have free WiFi.

Ask the Community - Crystal Fish

Can you order to go?

yes of course

Is there a brown rice option?

Yes， but there will be extra charge.

No answers yet. Be the first to answer.

Is this restaurant Japanese owned?

No. The new owner is Chinese.

View 2 more answers

Are there gluten free options specified on menu?

Do they take reservations?

No answers yet. Be the first to answer.

Do you require a vax card to dine in?

No and masks are optional.

Is this business dog friendly?

I’m not sure what’s business dog mean, but we have quite a few customers bringing service dogs.

Does this restaurant have outdoor dining?

No they don't

Is this restaurant opened again from covid for dine-in?

Yes, open for dine in. Ate that last night.

Do they have all you can eat sushi?

No they don't.

View 6 more answers

Does this restaurant do take-out orders?

Yes they do; I've never dined in, I've ordered to go and it was just fine.

View 5 more answers

View All 12 Questions

Züm Sushi

4.3(831 reviews)

0.5 mi

Excellent quality sushi, extremely quick service. We also…read morehad THE BEST HAMACHI CARPACCIO EVER!!!!! Wish I had taken a photo. This is the place to come for sushi when you're in Monterey. Next level quality. Highly recommend!!

Sun Sushi satisfied our sushi cravings! We had a doggie with us so we sat outside. They have…read moreheaters for those cold nights! The service is friendly and fast. The food comes out quick as well! Our rolls were good but nothing special. The toro was also fresh but not an amazing cut. Still, we enjoyed our food and would return to try other rolls another time.

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Kuma

4.3(429 reviews)

1.0 mi

If you're ever in Monterey County, be sure to check out my absolute favorite sushi bar called Kuma!…read moreThis is our 2nd time coming to this restaurant and we will keep coming back. The "Lover Plate" for 2 is an especially good deal that features Chef's Choice of a special roll, 8 pieces of Nigiri, 2 hand rolls, 4 pieces of gyoza and wakame seaweed salad -- all for $65! You let the server know what you like and don't like and they will customize the meal for you! Kuma gets 5 stars for SAFAV: Service Ambiance Food Alcohol Value for Money For more food recommendations of restaurants rated 5 stars for SAFAV, check out my IG: https://www.instagram.com/cindythechomper?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Really good sushi in Monterey. This is located in downtown Monterey and we stopped in because our…read moreoriginal destination had a huge wait. Kuma had a few minute wait. This place is really family friendly, and there were a lot of people with loud kids on a Saturday night around 6. It was also really packed, so the servers were running around getting everyone everything pretty quickly. I thought they were very pleasant and energetic. They have an interesting variety of sushi rolls, including some vegetarian and vegan selections. I felt like the serving size was pretty large, and I ended up taking some home. All the fish was fresh and high quality. A very enjoyable dinner!

Bar View

CARMEL VALLEY ROLL - @rayz

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SPICY SCALLOP HAND ROLL - @rayz

Wakatobi Japanese Grill Hibachi and Sushi

4.2(382 reviews)

3.0 mi

Excellent foods, great service and nice ambiance. We come to…read morehave our lunch and dinner here at wakatobi at least twice a month. It's a great place to dine !

We did a takeout at this highly rated restaurant. Since it was a week night, there was only one…read moretable eating in. I ordered the combo (filet mignon and shrimp with fried rice). The fried rice was really fluffy and flavorful. However the shrimp and steak were a bit overcooked (did not look like the photos). I am sure things would have tasted much better if we dined at the restaurant directly. I would probably give it another try in person next time we are in town.

Wakatobi Seaside

Volcano Rolls at Wakatobi Japanese Grill Hibachi and Sushi

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**Volcano Roll at Wakatobi Japanese Grill Hibachi & Sushi**

Sakura Japanese Restaurant

3.9(369 reviews)

0.0 mi

Just moved here and the locals suggested. Was not disappointed. Friendly staff and food was pretty…read moreJapanese-ish

Excellent food... I had sushi rolls and my friend had ramen, with an array of appetizers. All was…read moreexcellent. Friendly staff, fast service.

Interior

Almond cookies!

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Ocean Sushi Deli

4.1(544 reviews)

1.2 mi

Still as delicious as I last remembered! Make sure to order in advance if you are picking up for…read moretake out (20-30 min). A must stop place when we are in Monterey!

Very kind staff, food wasn't very good quality can probably make a better katsu at home. Good place…read moreto pick up Japanese condiments! Okay quality Japanese food in Monterey.

Tuna hand roll, shrimp hand roll, spicy tuna hand roll (all $4.50 each)

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Fried Salmon Bento Box

Hula's Island Grill

4.2(3.4k reviews)

0.1 mi

Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 5/5…read moreFood: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Parking: 4/5 Second time at Hula's, and I'm a fan. Good food and drinks. Hazen was our server, and he was great. Price is what you'd expect in Monterey, and while often paid, the parking is everywhere.

I really like the ambiance and decor of this place. It was quite cold out side so the staff sat us…read moreby the heat lamp in the patio which was decorated with Hawaii theme. There menu had indicators of nuts, vegetarian, and gluten free. We actually ate like kings at that place. We had their teriyaki rib eye steak that was cooked perfectly to my preference; their curry prawn dish that had really good rich flavors; fancy mac and cheese, edamame, crab cakes and shishito peppers. Really enjoyed the place for sure.

Surfboard over bar

Poke!! Amazingly melted in your mouth, and the plating was awesome!

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A hurricane

Akaoni

3.9(452 reviews)

4.1 mi

•$$$

solid omakase. the fish is fresh, the rice is nicely seasoned. the fish and rice ratio was good for…read morethe sushi. we also ordered sashimi platter. very fresh, buttery fish. i thought service was great. it's ran by an old couple the husband is the sushi chef and the wife is the server. i read some reviews service wasn't great but i thought they were attentive answered all my needs. it's a pretty small restaurant, nice date spot. it's good place for conversations, we can hear ourselves talk and close enough to each other.

If you're in Carmel by the Sea and are craving authentic sushi, you have to try Akaoni. Same…read moreproprietors and chef for decades. Always fresh fish. Make sure you check the daily fresh fish choices. Uni, ama ebi, mackerel, etc...they're all good and they are all masterfully prepared and served by a true sushi master. Enjoy.

The Chef, Mr Sing.

Jyo Sashimi

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Toribashi

We had a craving for ramen while on vacation in Monterey, and Toribashi came thru for us!…read more This restaurant was located in a downtown area, so there wasn't a dedicated parking lot, but it was fairly easy to find street parking. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen which was flavorful with a rich broth. I also know my kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves because there was nothing left in their bowls :) Thank you, Toribashi!

Welp.. We finally had the chance to return to Monterey.. As we were squeezed for time, we chose to…read morecome to Toribashi tonight. Parking was only mildly challenging, as a space opened up after only a single lap around the block. Inside here, you'll find a busy place with a few tables and individual bar-style (partitioned!) paired seating along the walls adjacent to the kitchen in the middle part of the restaurant. Order up at the self-serve order kiosks, tap in your table/counter number, and they bring out your order in a couple of minutes. We had six of us in our party, and most of us kept it simple by ordering the default Tonkatsu Ramen with different customizable options. Most all of the ingredients in this order were on point - The Chasu Pork Belly was tender, thick and delicious, ramen noodles nothing special, but generally stil on point, as were the bamboo shoots. However, the co-star/centerpiece of the Tonkatsu Ramen other than the Chasu Pork slab should be the broth, but sadly the broth was far far TOO salty which overpowered the other flavors in the broth. Chasu Pork 4.8/5, Tonkatsu Ramen 3.1/5. Service was good as everyone was hustling hard in the kitchen, along with attentive bussers/waitstaff to quickly turn tables. They take good care in wiping down the tables here. If I return, I'll just get the Paitan Ramen like I did in years past, as that seemed less salty. Then again the Paitan soup base begins with the same chicken+pork soup base as the Tonkatsu Ramen. I hope Toribashi will step back up to their former glory.

Beef Rice Bowl

Tan Tan

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As ahi for the win

Kafe Toribashi

4.5(42 reviews)

0.7 mi

On a rainy afternoon in Monterey, we were wandering around Fisherman's Wharf looking for something…read morewarm, coffee or tea, and a cozy spot with a view of the water. After lunch at Sand Dabs, we stumbled across this really cute café, and it ended up being the perfect stop. When we walked in, the first thing we noticed was that they were making fresh taiyaki, those sweet, fish-shaped pastries. The fillings offered were red bean, Nutella, and Oreo. There's a small discount if you order two, so we started with the red bean and Nutella, and honestly, they were so good that wished we ordered the Oreo too...warm, freshly made, and really delicious. I'll admit, I've had Taiyaki desserts before and was never a huge fan, sometimes they're bland or overly sweet. These were different. Even my friend said the same thing, we were both pleasantly surprised by how good they were. We both ordered hot teas, which felt perfect for the rainy weather, and I was totally intrigued by their ramen vending machines. You pick your ramen, choose your toppings, place it in the machine, and it fills with hot water and cooks right there. A few minutes later, your bowl is ready. It felt very Asia-inspired and not something you see very often around here, especially in a café setting. This spot is the café version of their main restaurant, which I believe is on Alvarado Street (I haven't been there yet). The service was genuinely great. The guys working were friendly, patient, and took the time to explain everything to us without rushing. You could tell they enjoyed what they were doing. Because it was raining, it wasn't crowded at all, which made the experience even better. We ended up hanging out for about an hour, just chatting, sipping tea, enjoying dessert, and looking out at the water. They also carry Marianne's Ice Cream, so I'm already planning a return visit on a warmer day. And honestly, next time I'll probably try the ramen too, if only for the fun of it and all the topping choices. Parking around the wharf is paid. We parked in a nearby lot and walked over, which was pretty easy, just something to keep in mind. Overall, the vibe was fun, cozy, and relaxed. Great desserts, a unique experience, kind staff, and a really nice place to spend a rainy afternoon by the water. I'll definitely be back.

I thought the cafe name was super cute. After browsing the menu, I decided to give this place a…read moretry. It's the only place that offers matcha/taiyaki so I thought it was worth a go. I ordered the mango matcha latte, which was a whopping $8.75 ($9.55 after tax). I gulped pressing the "pay" button; part of me wanted to swallow the doubt and see if it was any good. TLDR: it was bad. I'm not sure what the mango is made out of, but it is not smooth like a mango jam or puree. The texture is like blended up unripened mango meat. I will say, matcha taste is there, but the entire drink was just extremely sweet and there was little to no mango taste, besides chewing on the chunks in each sip. It's as if the drink was purposely made extremely sweet to hide the quality of the matcha and fruit. I tried finishing the drink since I paid nearly $10 for it but I couldn't, and had to throw the rest away. However, the worker who made my drink was kind and seems very friendly. The interior is very simple and cute, and there is a nice view of the ocean from the outside seating. I just wouldn't recommend the matcha here. Especially for what I paid for, I am pretty disappointed! :(

Lovely place to stay

Ramen with a view at the patio

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Prepare your own ramen

Toro

4.0(542 reviews)

4.1 mi

Service was prompt and very personable, menu offerings were very well portioned, my Hawaiian Poke…read morebowl was the perfect amount with fresh ingredients and the right touch of heat, and there were plenty of gluten-free offerings for my wife. Our main server and man who brought out our dessert were very friendly. Would 100% come back on a sunny day to sit in the outside patio. Toro is a great place for either a family dinner or a romantic date

Amazing service, incredibly fresh sushi and a lovely Carmel-By-The-Sea vibe…read more We ordered a chef's choice Sashimi which had an assortment of fish, uni, eel, scallops and egg. The sake flight was absolutely delicious if you're in the mood to experiment. In quintessential Carmel fashion, the spaces to eat were as varied as the menu. Love this place and can't wait to go back to try more food!